Cardboard or like box and carton



Dec. 20, 1932. F. e. ROBINSON 1,391,839

CARDBOARD OR THE LIKE BOX AND CARTON Filed Oct. 50, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,v vavra L Dec. 20, 1932. F. s. ROBINSON CARDBOARD OR THE LIKE BOX AND CARTON Filed Oct. 50. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOSTER GOTCH ROBINSON, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND ASSIGNOR T E. S. AND A.

ROBINSON, LIMITED, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND CARDBOARD OR LIKE BOX AND CARTON Application filed October 30, 1929, Serial No. 403,594, and in Great Britaln November 29, 1928.

This invention relates generally to cardboard or like boxes or cartons for. packing fragile articles, such as electric light globes, thermionic valves, bottles or articles of a similar shape.

The object of the invention is to provide in a box or carton of this kind an improved support for the fragile article which will con siderably facilitate the insertion of the article therein and the packing manipulation, whilst still providing adequate protection for the article during transit.

The invention consists in an improved support adapted for the reception of fragile 7 articles the support being shaped towards one end to provide a seating for the article and provided with side members adapted when placed within a box or carton to move inwardly into holding or gripping relation with the article.

The invention also consists in an improved support adapted for the reception of fragile articles, the support being of a shape towards one end to provide a seating for the article and the walls thereof at the other end being creased or scored to enable their being gathered together inwardly into gripping relation or contact with the article.

The invention further consists in an improved support adapted for the reception of fragile articles, said support being of hollow pyramidal or conical form having creases or bending lines which enable it to be bent into the form of a winged double F truncated pyramidal or conical figure with a common'base and which upon the insertion of the support into a box or carton is maintained in its pyramidal or conical form.

Reference will now be made to the accom-- panying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View of a blank from which the invention may be constructed.

Figure 2 is a modified form of the blank illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the suport. p Figure 4 is a View of the support with an electric lamp enclosed and positioned within a box or carton. Figure 5 is a plan view of Figure 4, and

; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the support.

The support is preferably made from a blank such as is shown in either of Figures 1 or 2 and is suitably scored or creased at l for folding and is provided with a flap or tongue 2 for the purpose of uniting the extremities of the blank together in order to give the desired pyramidal shape as is shown in Figure 3. The size of the support rclatively to the box or carton in which it is to be inserted is such that when a box or carton of square cross-section is employed the support will have. a greater girth towards one end and extend beyond the cross-sectional area of the box or carton.

The blank shown in Figure 1 is scored or creased at 3 and these scores extend from a point 4 between the top and bottom edges of the support and each extend to a point at or adjacent the lower edge as indicated at 5. Two such scorings or creases are provided on each'face of the support so that two substantially triangular shaped portions 6 are formed extending between the scorings of each face and the side edges 1. Each triangular portion is adapted to be folded about the adjacent corner of the support so that the inner surface of each portion will be brought into proximity or contact with the inner surface of the adjacent triangular portion. The support folded in this manner is clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 and it will be seen that viewed from the base end of the support the latter will have a substantially star or cross shaped outline. 'As this folding takes place the portions 7 of the support which lie between the scorings 3 are moved inwardly and caused to bend about an area approxi- 'mately in the centre of or midway between the upper and lower edges of the support and adjacent the points 4 where the scorings 3 approach the corners.

The portions 7 may be cut away as indig cated at 8 between the scorings or creases 3, which arrangement makes the support particularly convenient for the reception of an electric bulb or valve as access may be had to the terminals of the lamp or valve to enable the same to be tested without removal of the support from the box or carton.

According to a modified form as shown particularly in -Figure 2 the scorings or I. creases 9 along one side of the triangular ortions may, if desired, be curved or ent sharply. Also the walls or side faces may be scored or creased at 10, so .as to facilitate the bending which takes lace when the por- 10 tions 7 are moved inwar ly. By this means the bending will occur at a definite line and cause a rigidity, thus afiording added protection at the sides to the article enclosed.

When it is desired to pack a lamp or other appropriate article within a box or carton by means of the improved support the lamp is first inserted in the support from the base opening of the pyramid with the bulb end foremost. The carton will then be in the condition illustrated in Figure 3. The large end of the support is then pinched at four points substantially in the centre of the side walls between the triangular flaps 6 and towards the base edges, such movement continuing until thesaid edges meet the spigot or plug port is then pushed into the box or carton with its corners towards those of the box and that portion towards the baseof the pyramid will take up a more or less cruciform or star shaped outline having as its centre the spigot or plug of the lamp, and the support will thus assume a position as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. It will be seen that the extreme ends of the folds at the corners of the' support as viewed in Figure 4 will extend beyond the end face of the spigot or plug and will thus leave a space between the said face and the end of the support which isolates the lamp from the box at that end. It will also be noted that the lamp is: seated in the part of the support towards the truncated end so that the bulb is spaced also from the other end of the box or carton.

If desired, the pyramidal faces of the support may be cut off or scored to allow them to more readily conform to the shape of the article contained.

The supporting unit has been described in connection with a container of square crosssection and of oblong shape but it will be understood that containers of other shapes in which the walls are not parallel, such for instance as one of conical or pyramidal shape of the appropriate size, may be employed provided that the walls of the container will confine the support and cause the latter to bend about the scorings or creases as previously described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A container for fragile articles comprising a box or carton and an article supporting 65 unit removably located therein, said unit comprising at one end a supporting seating for the article and at the other end a plurality of separable wing-like'elements connected by intervening wall portions, said elements when separated permitting the insertion of the article into theunit and being collapsible to cause engagement and gripping of the article, such engagement being maintained by the contacting of the said elements with the sides of the boxor carton when the unit is positioned therein.

2. A container for fragile articles comprising a box or carton and an article supporting unit removably located therein, said unit comprising a hollow pyramidal portion located towards one end to afford a supporting seating for the article and at the other end a plurality of separable wing-like elements connected by intervening wall portions, said elements when separated permitting the insertion of the article into the unit and being collapsible to cause engagement and gripping of the article, such engagement being maintained by the contacting of the said elements with the sides of the box or carton when the unit is positioned therein.

3. An improved support for the reception of a fragile article, comprising a hollow pyramidal portion adapted to provide a seating for the article, and a contiguous portion having fold lines therein, said portion being bent along said fold lines to give the support a double truncated pyramidal form havin wing-like extensions adapted to contact with the Walls of a containing box or carton.

4. An improved support for the reception of a fragile article, comprising a hollow pyramidal portion adapted to provide a seating for the article and a contiguous portion having fold lines therein adapted to give said 105 portion, when folded, a truncated pyramidal form having wing-like extensions, said extensions being produced by bending the side walls of the support along lines extendin from the base thereof to a point situated mi way between the upper and lower edges of the support.

5. A container for fragile articles comprising a box or carton and an article supporting unit removably located therein, said unit comprising at one end a supporting seating for the article and at the other end a plurality of separable wing-like elements connected by intervening wall portions, said ele-. ments when separated permitting the insertion of the article into the unit and being collapsible to cause the walls of the support to engage and grip the article, such engage, ment being maintained by the contactin of the said elements with the sides of the ox or carton when the unit is positioned therein, the walls being cut away at the base of the unit to enable the article to-be tested withoutremoval from the box or carton.

; 6. A container for fragile articles comprising a box or carton and an article supporting unit removably located therein, said unit comprising a portion shaped at one end to provide a supporting seating for an end of the article and a contiguous portion having the walls thereof creased or scored to form outwardly directed separable wing-like elements connected laterally by intervenin wall portions, said elements when separated permitting the insertion of the article into the unit and capable of being gathered together so that the walls of the support engage and grip the other end of the article, such engagement being maintained by the contacting of the said elements with the sides of the box or carton when the unit is positioned therein.

7. In combination, a box and a removable internal supporting unit, said unit having a supportin seating for an article at one end and folda le and separable wall portions at the other end, said wall portions lying face to face and forming radiating fin elements which in plan present a starlike form, the points of which lie in each corner of the containing box.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FOSTER GOTGH ROBINSON. 

